Middle aged boxes ticked: Do it all estate for sub £5k
Discussion
Here's one for you and granted it's one that myself and associated mates have talked to death but it'd be interesting to hear some views from the wider audience, purely as a matter of interest though perhaps I've missed something.
Back story... always had two cars, daily drivers / sheds / tools which have pretty much exclusively been Volvo estates and then had something older / retro / performance as a toy / weekend car etc and they too have been Volvos... few 850R's and V70R's. Had an older V70R and a V70 R5 as a daily shed, baby arrived, needed something newer with airbags, aircon etc so bought an 05 V70R with a view to using it daily alongside her car (then, a Mk5 Astra) but said V70R became a garage queen and I ran the old V70 T5 mainly.
Cut forward a few months and the V70R has gone as a) it rarely got used b) was just too harsh / highly strung c) the wife hated it and d) a house move meant I lost the garage temporarily. By that stage I'd got the wife an older V50 diesel as the Astra was too small (I know, lucky lady...) and I changed my T5 for a 05 V70 D5 which is frankly brilliant as a tool / commuter / general wagon. Granted, we now have two 10yr+ high mileage Volvo estates and I'm not sure that's necessary and nor is it very interesting.
So, I went out to buy something newer to basically replace the V70R and my very tired old D5 as the main family car, ie the car that the wee man would travel in 99% of the time and we'd use her V50 as my daily commuter. Off to Wales I went and came back with an 08 Volvo XC70 thinking it'd be all things to all men and whilst it was a lovely, smooth barge that coudl handle the rough and tumble of daily life... it was just big, dull, over complex and I just didn't gel with it. Two weeks later, it was sold and back to the old pair of diesels I went.
But mine is dying... and it's looking tired and lets me honest, it doesn't make me want to go out and enjoy a drive nor bother cleaning it and that's starting to get to me. So, here's the challenge....
Budget of £5k max
Must be an estate of reasonable size
Not ruinously expensive to run so 30mpg minimum
Creature comforts such as air con, isofix etc as it's main role would be as the child carrier / daily driver
Not too highly strung, harsh or "look at me" but equally, fast enough and engaging enough for the rare Sunday run sans child.
Robust enough to survive trail by child, wife, tip runs, rural life
Lean towards "sporty" rather then "off roady" because as much as a crossover suits life, they're just so dull to drive...
We've run through the usual candidates, with Volvos featuring highly and the likes of a P3 V70 with the 2.5T engine, an Audi A4 or A6 with a 2.0TFSi or diesel lump in S-Line guise, a 3 of 5 series in M-SPort guise and again petrol or diesel, a Subaru Legacy though the 2.0R is a bit slow and the 3.0R seems a bit thirsty and they're a bit cheap inside. Also had some left wing suggestions such as the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagen in Ti spec which is a stunning looking car and there's also the current "Hmmm, maybe" shout that is an Octavia vRS again with the 2.0TFSi engine.
I'd love a B8 S4 Avant, Golf R estate or a V60 Polestar but for one reason or another, budget won't allow at the moment but we'll get there and currently, I find myself being drawn to a P3 V70 (again!) but this time in R-Design guise with the D5 engine and a manual box as this is probably the natural progression from my beloved old D5 but with a bit of added bling that I lost when the V70R went... though it's hardly the last word in driver engagement and excitement.
Over to you, what have I missed or what should definitely be avoided!
Back story... always had two cars, daily drivers / sheds / tools which have pretty much exclusively been Volvo estates and then had something older / retro / performance as a toy / weekend car etc and they too have been Volvos... few 850R's and V70R's. Had an older V70R and a V70 R5 as a daily shed, baby arrived, needed something newer with airbags, aircon etc so bought an 05 V70R with a view to using it daily alongside her car (then, a Mk5 Astra) but said V70R became a garage queen and I ran the old V70 T5 mainly.
Cut forward a few months and the V70R has gone as a) it rarely got used b) was just too harsh / highly strung c) the wife hated it and d) a house move meant I lost the garage temporarily. By that stage I'd got the wife an older V50 diesel as the Astra was too small (I know, lucky lady...) and I changed my T5 for a 05 V70 D5 which is frankly brilliant as a tool / commuter / general wagon. Granted, we now have two 10yr+ high mileage Volvo estates and I'm not sure that's necessary and nor is it very interesting.
So, I went out to buy something newer to basically replace the V70R and my very tired old D5 as the main family car, ie the car that the wee man would travel in 99% of the time and we'd use her V50 as my daily commuter. Off to Wales I went and came back with an 08 Volvo XC70 thinking it'd be all things to all men and whilst it was a lovely, smooth barge that coudl handle the rough and tumble of daily life... it was just big, dull, over complex and I just didn't gel with it. Two weeks later, it was sold and back to the old pair of diesels I went.
But mine is dying... and it's looking tired and lets me honest, it doesn't make me want to go out and enjoy a drive nor bother cleaning it and that's starting to get to me. So, here's the challenge....
Budget of £5k max
Must be an estate of reasonable size
Not ruinously expensive to run so 30mpg minimum
Creature comforts such as air con, isofix etc as it's main role would be as the child carrier / daily driver
Not too highly strung, harsh or "look at me" but equally, fast enough and engaging enough for the rare Sunday run sans child.
Robust enough to survive trail by child, wife, tip runs, rural life
Lean towards "sporty" rather then "off roady" because as much as a crossover suits life, they're just so dull to drive...
We've run through the usual candidates, with Volvos featuring highly and the likes of a P3 V70 with the 2.5T engine, an Audi A4 or A6 with a 2.0TFSi or diesel lump in S-Line guise, a 3 of 5 series in M-SPort guise and again petrol or diesel, a Subaru Legacy though the 2.0R is a bit slow and the 3.0R seems a bit thirsty and they're a bit cheap inside. Also had some left wing suggestions such as the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagen in Ti spec which is a stunning looking car and there's also the current "Hmmm, maybe" shout that is an Octavia vRS again with the 2.0TFSi engine.
I'd love a B8 S4 Avant, Golf R estate or a V60 Polestar but for one reason or another, budget won't allow at the moment but we'll get there and currently, I find myself being drawn to a P3 V70 (again!) but this time in R-Design guise with the D5 engine and a manual box as this is probably the natural progression from my beloved old D5 but with a bit of added bling that I lost when the V70R went... though it's hardly the last word in driver engagement and excitement.
Over to you, what have I missed or what should definitely be avoided!
2008 C320 cdi sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
£5.2 on the screen, yours for what, £4.800?
Not a slow car. Plenty mpg. Heated memory seats.
Plus it won’t look sheddy for quite a while.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
£5.2 on the screen, yours for what, £4.800?
Not a slow car. Plenty mpg. Heated memory seats.
Plus it won’t look sheddy for quite a while.
Edited by nobrakes on Friday 29th March 02:58
I've been watching this for a while. Other better versions are out there.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V70-3-0-T6-281bhp...
Alternatively a V60?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-V70-3-0-T6-281bhp...
Alternatively a V60?
Hey same boat !
I have a V70 Manual D5 for daily duties and I am struggling to replace it. It just continues to do everything that is asked of it very well.
The 6 speed box with the later 185bhp/210bhp engine with 400nm/295 ft-lb torque is just fantastic, the torque is exactly where you need it for road driving.
I don't think for 5K, you are going to find a better car.
I currently have my eye on a Jaguar 3.0V6D Sportbrake as its replacement. Just waiting for a little more depreciation to occur !
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I have a V70 Manual D5 for daily duties and I am struggling to replace it. It just continues to do everything that is asked of it very well.
The 6 speed box with the later 185bhp/210bhp engine with 400nm/295 ft-lb torque is just fantastic, the torque is exactly where you need it for road driving.
I don't think for 5K, you are going to find a better car.
I currently have my eye on a Jaguar 3.0V6D Sportbrake as its replacement. Just waiting for a little more depreciation to occur !
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I'd say the E320cdi ticks all the boxes.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
nobrakes said:
2008 C320 cdi sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
£5.2 on the screen, yours for what, £4.800?
Not a slow car. Plenty mpg. Heated memory seats.
Plus it won’t look sheddy for quite a while.
I keep coming back to this post, such a nice car!https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
£5.2 on the screen, yours for what, £4.800?
Not a slow car. Plenty mpg. Heated memory seats.
Plus it won’t look sheddy for quite a while.
Edited by nobrakes on Friday 29th March 02:58
Some strong suggestions, cheers.
I think part of my problem is that when buying used, it's very hard to "try before you buy" as it were... it's all very well saying "X car ticks the boxes" then off you go, arrive at a sellers door and have a quick drive so as not to take the piss ad then commit if it's a nice car. Then in the days that follow, you realise that it's just not quite suited to your needs. Had the issue with the XC70 I bought (and sold) recently... only prior experience was on a Volvo experience days years ago, off road and I thought it'd be great for me. But few days after buying, it's just felt big, heavy, slow and wallowed around like a fat hippo. But what can you do... sometimes you just have to hope it works out which is why I'm slightly nervous at buying with minimal seat time. Will an A6 S-Line be too harsh? Does a Merc give me back ache? Will a Legacy rattle over the local, crappy roads and so on and so forth. You pays your money, you takes your chance I guess.
But I digress and I'm still looking and still find myself drawn between a P3 Volvo V70 R-Design with a manual box and ideally the D5 engine as I think that'd be a good, logic step and mix huge carrying capacity with reasonable running costs and the much desired bling (the SE and other bland, entry level models / styling is a bit... meh to coin a phrase) but I'm also looking a B8 A4's which seem to have gotten very cheap recently. Quite a few nice S-Line cars both TFSI and diesel within budget and even a couple of Quattros which I must admit, does appeal given our rural location / small human / must get to work in all weather needs. But then again as soon as I look at them, I find myself thinking would an XC60 or something like a Tiguan be better, bearing in mind it'll be first and foremost a family machine but that's moving away from the whole "nice car to own" and also having the ability to ditch the wife and baby and enjoy driving it occasionally.
Not sure who I'm trying to convince here... but I think it may be a case of just trying to tick too many boxes. The current, well worth and abused V70 D5 is a great tool, thus far its' been in full on van mode this week and has just taken about a ton of rubble to the tip before being dumped at Asda with no worries about dings etc, but now I'm sat with some free time thinking "I quite fancy a bit car wash time, zone out and give it a polish" but there's no point as it's battered, bruised, rusty and looks even worse when clean. Then I thought "could go a run down the Borders for a couple of hours" but again said car knocks, clunks and generally drives like a pig and thus is I have no desire to "drive" it. There lies the issue, an estate that does everything and that's difficult as is convincing myself that I could go from a D5 and 50mpg to something petrol and thus half that, and not get annoyed filling it up daily. It'd need to be rather special to outweigh the extra running costs. I don't mind fuelling a car doing 25mpg if it's good fun, but if it's as dull as the Volvo then I'd rather be doing 50mpg.
Biggest issue is, I'd decide quite easily if I could drive X, Y or Z but that's not possible... and sadly I don't really know anybody who owns something I'd like thus be able to ask to borrow it for a day or two to see how it feels and hence, I find myself sat on the fence unable to commit. But I need to, the clock's ticking.
And I know, cool story etc etc
I think part of my problem is that when buying used, it's very hard to "try before you buy" as it were... it's all very well saying "X car ticks the boxes" then off you go, arrive at a sellers door and have a quick drive so as not to take the piss ad then commit if it's a nice car. Then in the days that follow, you realise that it's just not quite suited to your needs. Had the issue with the XC70 I bought (and sold) recently... only prior experience was on a Volvo experience days years ago, off road and I thought it'd be great for me. But few days after buying, it's just felt big, heavy, slow and wallowed around like a fat hippo. But what can you do... sometimes you just have to hope it works out which is why I'm slightly nervous at buying with minimal seat time. Will an A6 S-Line be too harsh? Does a Merc give me back ache? Will a Legacy rattle over the local, crappy roads and so on and so forth. You pays your money, you takes your chance I guess.
But I digress and I'm still looking and still find myself drawn between a P3 Volvo V70 R-Design with a manual box and ideally the D5 engine as I think that'd be a good, logic step and mix huge carrying capacity with reasonable running costs and the much desired bling (the SE and other bland, entry level models / styling is a bit... meh to coin a phrase) but I'm also looking a B8 A4's which seem to have gotten very cheap recently. Quite a few nice S-Line cars both TFSI and diesel within budget and even a couple of Quattros which I must admit, does appeal given our rural location / small human / must get to work in all weather needs. But then again as soon as I look at them, I find myself thinking would an XC60 or something like a Tiguan be better, bearing in mind it'll be first and foremost a family machine but that's moving away from the whole "nice car to own" and also having the ability to ditch the wife and baby and enjoy driving it occasionally.
Not sure who I'm trying to convince here... but I think it may be a case of just trying to tick too many boxes. The current, well worth and abused V70 D5 is a great tool, thus far its' been in full on van mode this week and has just taken about a ton of rubble to the tip before being dumped at Asda with no worries about dings etc, but now I'm sat with some free time thinking "I quite fancy a bit car wash time, zone out and give it a polish" but there's no point as it's battered, bruised, rusty and looks even worse when clean. Then I thought "could go a run down the Borders for a couple of hours" but again said car knocks, clunks and generally drives like a pig and thus is I have no desire to "drive" it. There lies the issue, an estate that does everything and that's difficult as is convincing myself that I could go from a D5 and 50mpg to something petrol and thus half that, and not get annoyed filling it up daily. It'd need to be rather special to outweigh the extra running costs. I don't mind fuelling a car doing 25mpg if it's good fun, but if it's as dull as the Volvo then I'd rather be doing 50mpg.
Biggest issue is, I'd decide quite easily if I could drive X, Y or Z but that's not possible... and sadly I don't really know anybody who owns something I'd like thus be able to ask to borrow it for a day or two to see how it feels and hence, I find myself sat on the fence unable to commit. But I need to, the clock's ticking.
And I know, cool story etc etc
dmsims said:
Yeah but I would never describe the V70 as exciting
(150,000 miles done in a V70 2.5T)
Agreed... be it the one I have or a P3 R-Design regardless of engine spec but what the Lord gives with one hand, he takes away with another and all that. Plus, no family estate at this level will ever be exciting as far as driver focused and dynamic etc etc goes but the XC70, whilst never intended to be a drivers car was just too slow, too soft and too uninvolving to make me love it, more so having come from a succession of Volvo "R" models and I don't mean the styling exercise that is the R-Design. Just something that can do the family stuff, load lugging stuff, not highly strung stuff but still has enough pace and involvement to be interesting as and when the mood demands. By that I mean something that can cover B roads at pace, hence no harshly sprung, 19" wheel clad stuff... on which note, the Legacy B-Spec Tourer keeps cropping up and on paper, seems to tick a lot of boxes. (150,000 miles done in a V70 2.5T)
Thread update:
For the first time since 1996, I don't own a car... which seems like a completely stupid move but yesterday, I sold my old V70 D5 leaving me with nothing bar a few hundred pounds extra in the pot. Makes little sense on paper... it started, drove, had an MOT and cost little but I'd had it a year, it had some issues and the bodywork was poor and it was just becoming a bit embarrassing. I took the first decent offer and it's gone.
Possible replacements for it and the recently sold, blingy, fast and highly strung V70R I had are proving hard to find... granted there's countless cars out there but nothing just seems to be appealing. I think there's either too many bases to cover (needs to be an estate, nice to drive, not to harsh, return reasonable mpg, not be too highly strung, be a workhorse, suit family needs etc etc) and I'm just struggling to find anything that I actually like and want to own.
The other issue is, I've considered a few things but when buying used... how do you know its the car for you? I mean I like a Legacy but I've never driven one nor have I driven a 530D or a Audi A6 3.0 Quattro and you can't just go and be a test pilot... and I don't know anybody with any of the above so I think part of my reluctance to commit is the fear that after the honeymoon period is over, I may not like it. Ie, the same scenario as the 2009 XC70 I bought thinking it'd be all things to all men but after 2 weeks, I just hated its lethargic performance and comedy handling and also its ability to rack up huge bills... so I sold it.
I think I may have painted myself in to a corner here... I'm currently looking at bus times to get to work next week !
For the first time since 1996, I don't own a car... which seems like a completely stupid move but yesterday, I sold my old V70 D5 leaving me with nothing bar a few hundred pounds extra in the pot. Makes little sense on paper... it started, drove, had an MOT and cost little but I'd had it a year, it had some issues and the bodywork was poor and it was just becoming a bit embarrassing. I took the first decent offer and it's gone.
Possible replacements for it and the recently sold, blingy, fast and highly strung V70R I had are proving hard to find... granted there's countless cars out there but nothing just seems to be appealing. I think there's either too many bases to cover (needs to be an estate, nice to drive, not to harsh, return reasonable mpg, not be too highly strung, be a workhorse, suit family needs etc etc) and I'm just struggling to find anything that I actually like and want to own.
The other issue is, I've considered a few things but when buying used... how do you know its the car for you? I mean I like a Legacy but I've never driven one nor have I driven a 530D or a Audi A6 3.0 Quattro and you can't just go and be a test pilot... and I don't know anybody with any of the above so I think part of my reluctance to commit is the fear that after the honeymoon period is over, I may not like it. Ie, the same scenario as the 2009 XC70 I bought thinking it'd be all things to all men but after 2 weeks, I just hated its lethargic performance and comedy handling and also its ability to rack up huge bills... so I sold it.
I think I may have painted myself in to a corner here... I'm currently looking at bus times to get to work next week !
Just as a little curved ball, I'm finding myself drawn to these... and specifically this (minus the black wheels)
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
However my Subaru knowledge could be written on the back of a stamp... which worries me slightly.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
However my Subaru knowledge could be written on the back of a stamp... which worries me slightly.
Mentioned above, but a V60?
Just had a really quick look and there is a d5 in budget, albeit with 170k
I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...
Just had a really quick look and there is a d5 in budget, albeit with 170k
I just found a great car on Auto Trader.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...
It one with less miles but a little above budget
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
V60 in R-Design guise is actually a good shout and something I've had a look at but maybe just pushing the budget too much plus at that level, it's be an earlier / mega miler so maybe just a wee bit out of reach just now and I need to be pretty firm to avoid budget creep!
I think the issue is me... I'm at that cross road in life where I've moved on from the "utter workhorse plus bit of weekend bling" combination and whilst that was great, logistically it's just not viable just now hence looking to bank roll the better elements of both in to the one, do it all car.
The V70R was immaculate and a fabulous thing to own and indeed drive on the right day and road, but it was just too highly strung and too nice to be used day in, day out for family duties and such like... and my recently departed old D5 was a great tool for treating like a scabby donkey and cost little, but it was a shed and looked it which was fine alongside some bling, but take away the bling and it leaves.... a shed.
Ironically, I'm sat looking at cheaper / slightly worn V70R's as we speak thinking I wonder if I could just run one and not get balls deep in it like I did with the last one... but even I know that's not the best suggestion so also been looking at older V70 Classics for that retro appeal and simple engineering, but that brings with it age related issues and also no Iso-Fix and such creature comforts that make family use a bit nicer.
The other factor which is causing more debate is that I'm currently sat with no car myself and she has her cheap V50 diesel... now pushing 207,000 miles and whilst it does all that's needed, it too is starting to show it's age for day in, day out use hence debated moving it to second car duties and then buy something with wife, child and family use at the forefront.
But that won't really help the fact I'm missing something that is good looking and can be good fun as and when required... a 2.0D V50 isnt that!
It's a boggler!
I think the issue is me... I'm at that cross road in life where I've moved on from the "utter workhorse plus bit of weekend bling" combination and whilst that was great, logistically it's just not viable just now hence looking to bank roll the better elements of both in to the one, do it all car.
The V70R was immaculate and a fabulous thing to own and indeed drive on the right day and road, but it was just too highly strung and too nice to be used day in, day out for family duties and such like... and my recently departed old D5 was a great tool for treating like a scabby donkey and cost little, but it was a shed and looked it which was fine alongside some bling, but take away the bling and it leaves.... a shed.
Ironically, I'm sat looking at cheaper / slightly worn V70R's as we speak thinking I wonder if I could just run one and not get balls deep in it like I did with the last one... but even I know that's not the best suggestion so also been looking at older V70 Classics for that retro appeal and simple engineering, but that brings with it age related issues and also no Iso-Fix and such creature comforts that make family use a bit nicer.
The other factor which is causing more debate is that I'm currently sat with no car myself and she has her cheap V50 diesel... now pushing 207,000 miles and whilst it does all that's needed, it too is starting to show it's age for day in, day out use hence debated moving it to second car duties and then buy something with wife, child and family use at the forefront.
But that won't really help the fact I'm missing something that is good looking and can be good fun as and when required... a 2.0D V50 isnt that!
It's a boggler!
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